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    HomeGrants and OpportunitiesWorkforce Opportunity for Rural Communities

        
      
Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities
	
	
				
	
	
	The Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative, **managed by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)**, provides enhanced training and support activities to dislocated workers, new entrants in the workforce, incumbent workers, and individuals affected by substance use disorder (SUD) returning to work in the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border regions. As part of WORC, ARC partners with the Department of Labor to develop comprehensive approaches addressing economic distress and workforce development activities throughout the Region. Successful WORC projects draw on long-term economic growth strategies, building on bottom-up, community-led plans maximizing economic resilience and regional strengths.





	


  
Round 6          
                      Funding Now Available
          
                      DOL’s Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Initiative provides funding for projects that develop local and regional workforce development solutions in underserved communities and regions, including Appalachia. **Applications are due Thursday, June 20, 2024.**
          
                      Learn More






	



WORC’s Impact in Appalachia    
    
    $80.7M
              
              Invested							  


62
              
              Projects Supported							  


288
              
              Counties Impacted





	


  
Since 2019, the Department of Labor has invested more than **$80.7 million** in **62 projects** specifically preparing displaced workers for new opportunities in **288 counties**across Appalachia through WORC. Together, these investments are projected to place **18,334 workers** in new or enhanced jobs in construction, healthcare, information technology, and manufacturing throughout the Region.
          
                      Meet Our Grantees






	

Investments in Action        Dataseam: Growing the IT Workforce in Eastern Kentucky
							
															With WORC support, Dataseam’s Registered Apprenticeship in Information Technology has already prepared more than 30 high school students to pursue high-paying, stable careers in IT.
							
															Learn More

Featured Resources





	


  
Resource          
                      WORC Pre-App Series
          
                      For the fourth year, ARC has sponsored the creation of a technical assistance series to break down components of the WORC funding opportunity. These videos cover several topics from the FOA  including eligibility, grant requirements and allowable activities, performance reporting, and application procedures.
          
                      Watch Here





	



Related Content    
    
    Investment Priority      
      Building Appalachia’s Workforce Ecosystem

      Training in an industrial facility
																				
																	

  Page      
      Addressing Substance Use Disorder in Appalachia

      Man and woman inspect plastic ring in manufacturing setting
																				
																	

  Investment in Action      
      First Tennessee Development District: Championing Caring Rural Workplaces Appalachian Regional Commission

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